Aaron Judge Unavailable for Yankees' ALDS Due to Physical Limitations, GM Explains
General Manager Brian Cashman stated that Judge's inability to run the bases or play the outfield made his exclusion from the roster a necessity, not a choice.
New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman clarified that star player Aaron Judge was not included on the American League Division Series roster because he was not physically ready. Cashman explained that Judge's inability to perform key actions such as running the bases or playing in the outfield was the determining factor.
“He’s just not ready. In the end, he wasn’t physically able,” Cashman told reporters. He acknowledged Judge’s competitive spirit, stating, “I know what he would like to do. … That’s the warrior in him. But physically, he wasn’t a choice.”
The decision to leave Judge off the roster was described as straightforward given his physical limitations.
Separately, José Caballero has been inserted into the starting lineup for Game 3 of the series against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, a move Cashman deemed appropriate given the circumstances of the game.